Spacer for modular jack assembly

Details Spacer for modular jack assembly Spacer for modular jack assembly

1999-12-22

2001-03-20

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With insulation other than conductor sheath

Plural-contact coupling part

Reexamination Certificate

active

06203379

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a modular jack, and particularly to a multi-port modular jack assembly having a spacer with contacts loaded therein.
2. Description of Prior Art
Modular jacks are commonly used for signal transmission. Some computing equipment is accessed by a plurality of devices and therefore has a plurality of modular jacks. In order to reduce production cost and occupied space, these modular jacks have been integrated in a single insulative housing in a juxtaposed manner for being mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). Due to the high signal transmission speed required by many computers today, such multi-port modular jack assembly is also provided with a shield enclosing external surfaces of the integral housing. Each port of the housing receives an insert module with a plurality of contacts retained therein.
In the conventional designs, the contacts are integrally insert molded with insulative materials to form an insert module. The insert module provides latches on opposite sides thereof for interlocking with the housing. However, such a method results in increased cost and complicated assembling process thereby prohibiting mass production.
Therefore, a multi-port modular jack assembly with reduced cost and simplified assembling process is desired for facilitating mass production.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide a multi-port modular jack assembly having a spacer with contacts loaded therein to reduce cost and facilitate mass production.
In order to achieve the object set forth, a multi-port modular jack assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing with a plurality of insert modules retained in chambers thereof and a plurality of LEDs assembled thereto by lockers. A shield for enclosing the housing has an extension plate adapted to downwardly overlap side plates thereof to enclose a rear end of the housing. The insert module includes a spacer with a plurality of contacts loaded therein.
The spacer is engaged with the housing and defines a plurality of clearance holes arranged in two rows. Each hole of the first row is staggered from a corresponding hole of the second row. A plurality of horizontal holes is defined in a front end portion of the spacer in communication with the corresponding clearance holes. Receiving holes are defined in the bottom surface of the spacer between the clearance holes and the horizontal holes. A contact in an initial straight shape is inserted into and through the horizontal hole for being upwardly and downwardly bent to respectively form a slanted spring contact portion and a right-angle bent tail portion received in the receiving hole. The clearance holes facilitate the downward bending of the contacts.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 4606595 (1986-08-01), Dola
patent: 4699595 (1987-10-01), Nakazawa et al.
patent: 5011435 (1991-04-01), Seong et al.
patent: 5879199 (1999-03-01), Belopolsky
patent: 5975943 (1999-11-01), Chou et al.
patent: 6012953 (2000-01-01), Francis

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